Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Dr. M. Lee Allison (1948 - 2016)

Dr. M. Lee Allison, State Geologist and Director of the
Arizona Geological Survey, passed away Tuesday, August 16th, at noon
after suffering a critical head injury from a fall at his home on
Saturday.

Lee’s passing is a tragic loss for his wife, family,
staff of the Arizona Geological Survey, the geologic and geoinformatics
communities, and Lee’s broad circle of friends, colleagues, and acquaintances
around the world. He was an incredibly dynamic leader of our agency, and
a world-wide leader in many areas that were important to him. We mourn his
passing, and will do our best to carry on his legacy.

There will not be a memorial service. Lee’s family has requested
they not be contacted. Any messages of condolence can be addressed to AZGS team
members; we will pass them along to his family.

Lee’s wife, Ann, suggested donations be made to the
Association for Women Geoscientists/Salt Lake Chapter or to a scholarship fund
that will be established at UMass to honor Lee.

Words of Emily Dickinson aptly apply: Because I
could not stop for Death, he kindly stopped for me. The carriage held but
just ourselves and immortality.